Because
of necessary budget reductions, in January 2004, Redwood City reduced neighborhood
street cleaning service from once every other week to once per month.

Redwood City is committed to providing clean streets. Street cleaning is an
integral part of street maintenance. Sweeping once per month meets the standards
and complies with the regulatory requirements of the federal Clean Water Act,
the municipal San Mateo Countywide National Pollution Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit, and the Countywide Stormwater Management Plan. Street
cleaning is a multi-purpose operation with three primary objectives:

Reduce the amount of pollutants that get into stormwater runoff and pollute
our waterways and the SF Bay

Prevent leaves, debris and litter from clogging the storm drain system

Provide a clean, aesthetically pleasing appearance to Redwood City neighborhoods.

Important Points to Remember:

Street sweepers start cleaning neighborhood streets at 7:30 a.m., continuing
until the route is completed, often before noon in smaller neighborhoods
and may be as late as 2:00 p.m. in larger ones.

Help us to more effectively keep neighborhoods clean by moving your vehicles
away from the curb between 7:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on your street sweeping
day.

From November through mid-February, leaf vacuum services remove the excess
leaves produced by street trees from neighborhood streets. This service is
usually provided the day before your scheduled street cleaning day.

Street sweepers do not clean private streets or streets that do not have
a curb and gutter.

Sweepers will not operate on holidays (when city offices are closed)

Commercial and industrial streets are swept between the hours of 4:00 a.m.
to 6:00 a.m. before the rush hour.

Redwood City street sweepers do NOT clean streets within the county’s
unincorporated areas. For information about county services and programs,
please call San Mateo County’s main number (650-363-4103), at the Grant
Corporation Yard in Redwood City.

DO rake
street tree leaves into low piles in the street in front of your property
to be swept up by the street sweeper. From Nov. to mid-Feb. excess
tree leaves will be swept up the day before your scheduled street cleaning
day. Keep piles at least 10 feet from all storm drain inlets
and parked vehicles.

DON’T park
your car in front of the sweepers path. When you see the sweeper coming,
move your car off the street or behind the sweeper and allow him to
clean in front of your and your neighbors’ homes. It
only takes seconds for the sweeper to pass. Move the vehicle
back to the curb after the street has been cleaned.

DO tell
your neighbors to support street cleaning by observing the DOs and
DON'Ts.

DON'T mound
large leaf piles at the curb. Leaf piles should be low and spread lengthwise
along the curb. Make sure the piles contain only leaves; branches
or other large debris will damage the sweeper or could cause injuries.

DON’T place
your side yard or backyard leaves at the curb. Use your yard
waste containers for your leaves and we will get the leaves from street
trees.

For more information about street cleaning in your neighborhood, call the
Public Works Division at 650-780-7464 or contact us by email at streetcleaning@redwoodcity.org